Mutxiko Dance Group Visit - September 2005

Mutxiko's Fantastic Fandango
(click on the Fandango hyperlink above to hear the music)

Within the continual programme of building social and cultural links with Peebles' twin town Hendaye in south-west France, this year's Arts Festival invited Mutxiko, a 24 strong group of Basque musicians and  dancers, to give several performances in the town.

On Wednesday, 7 September, the group danced to a full house at the Eastgate Theatre.  Their varied repetoire included pieces from different regions within the Basque Country, involving changes in regional costume as well as tempo, from beautifully disciplined walking dances to the more flamboyant fandango.

Friday, 9 September, saw the group in a more relaxed mode as guests of the local Scottish Country Dance group where they enthusiastically attempted some of our more complicated country dances as well as giving a short programme of Basque dances for the entertainment of the large number present.  An excellent evening was enjoyed by all.

During their five-day visit, the 24 musicians and dancers were accommodated with host families in and around Peebles, cementing old friendships and creating new ones.

The group visited the new Scottish Parliament building in Holyrood, Neidpath Castle, Traquair House, and Abbotsford and hopefully returned home with good memories and souvenirs of their stay in Peebles and the Borders.

Grateful thanks are due to the host families, the County Inn, Peebles Hotel Hydro, Peebles Rugby Club, Scottish Borders Council and the European Commission.

Local MSP, Jeremy Purvis, came to Peebles to speak to the visitors on "breaking down barriers".

In his speech, Mr Purvis highlighted the shortcomings of native English speakers, and the disappointing number of UK pupls learning French as a foreign language at school - 51.4 per cent against 94 per cent of French pupils learning English.

He went on to say that learning other languages is a doorway to understanding other people's cultures and their way of life thus leading to greater understanding between nations and peoples.

He suggested that the best way for nations and people to co-exist peacefully was to break down the barrier of "them and us", to learn more of other cultures, and to respect the diversity of peoples that make this planet the place it is.

Mr Purvis added that breaking down the language barrier should not mean overriding a language as has been doen throughout history as a means of domination.  Instead the barrier should be broken through understanding, through knowledge of a different language and a means of adequate and effective communication.

See pictures below.  Click on each one to view a larger version.